19th WC Soil Science

Australia has been urged to compensate the victims of domestic terror attacks as it does those harmed abroad, after the Sydney cafe siege last month.

The New South Wales attorney general, Brad Hazzard, said current payouts, limited to attacks in other countries, were “more than a little anomalous”. TOP 10 Web Hosting.

The siege in Sydney’s Lindt cafe ended with the deaths of two hostages.

Meanwhile, New South Wales MP Fred Nile has said male hostages who fled the siege should not get bravery awards.

The MP, who is known for his controversial views, told the 2UE radio station that the awards were normally given “for an act of bravery” – but men who had fled from the siege “haven’t done anything”.

Men and women were filmed escaping from the cafe during the 16-hour siege, but Mr Nile’s comments referred specifically to men.

The gunman, Man Haron Monis, was killed as police stormed the cafe. Cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson were also killed at the climax of the siege.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott this week called for Mr Johnson and Ms Dawson to be honoured with bravery awards.

Mr Abbott said “proper consideration” should also be given to the actions of surviving hostages and police, which may be “worthy of recognition”.

In an interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Nile said he did not believe the male hostages who had fled the siege deserved an award – but he also said he did not regard them as cowards.

In a tweet over the weekend, Mr Nile had questioned whether “the men who fled leaving women behind” should receive awards for bravery.

Meanwhile, Mr Hazzard said in a statement that he had asked the country’s attorney general, George Brandis, to extend a scheme to compensate the victims of terror attacks abroad “to cover acts of terrorism committed on home soil”.

Mr Hazard said those harmed by the Sydney siege could so far only apply for compensation under the New South Wales’ victim support scheme – and some had already done so. Four people were injured in the siege, including a policeman.

A spokesman for Mr Brandis said he was considering the issues raised by Mr Hazard’s request, the Guardian Australia reports.

The federal government offers a one-off payment of up to A$75,000 (£40,400; $61,300) to those injured in terror attacks abroad, or to the family members of those killed.

The money is only given for attacks that the prime minister declares to be eligible. These have included the 9/11 attacks in the US, as well as the 2002 and 2005 bombings in Bali.

Mr Abbott has described the Sydney cafe siege as a “brush with terrorism”, and has referred to Monis as a “madman” and a “deeply disturbed individual”.

An inquest into the deaths at the Lindt cafe siege is to begin on 29 January in Sydney.

The inquest will investigate whether any of the deaths could have been avoided.

The Abbott government is facing calls to bolster free speech in Australia in response to the massacre at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo by Islamist terrorists.

A day after world leaders joined two million people marching through Paris in support of peace and freedom of expression (Recharge Online), key government and crossbench senators renewed demands that the government fulfil its abandoned pre-election promise to wind back protections in the Racial Discrimination Act.

The current law allows for the prosecution of people who espouse views that “offend, insult and humiliate” on racial and ethnic grounds – most notably conservative columnist Andrew Bolt, who was sued in 2011 by a group of light-skinned Aborigines for suggesting they were not genuine Aboriginal people.

On Monday, Liberal senator Cory Bernardi said the government had been “bullied” out of amending the act, while NSW crossbencher David Leyonhjelm said the Charlie Hebdo atrocity should be a “wake up call to anyone who thinks you can have a little bit of free speech”.

He said preventing free speech through legal means and “Islamist pricks shooting journalists” were very different things but “two sides of the same coin” nonetheless.

In response to a public outcry led by ethnic groups, the government abandoned plans to amend Section 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act last year, saying it was more important to have the Muslim community on “Team Australia” and on side with tougher anti-terror laws.

Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss on Monday ruled out any renewed move to change the law.

“We should be bold and speak out about the things we want to speak out about but we can do that without changing section 18C. The government’s come to a decision in relation to that issue and we’re not proposing to change.”

But the outpouring of sympathy for the staff of Charlie Hebdo will give new impetus to a private member’s bill co-sponsored by Senator Leyonhjelm, crossbencher Bob Day, Senator Bernardi and his fellow Liberal Dean Smith which would largely effect the changes the government shied away from implementing.

The matter has once again split the Human Rights Commission, with Commissioner Tim Wilson, a Liberal appointee, backing Senator Bernardi’s push.

The biggest battle this past week has been in South Australia, but there have also been fires in Victoria and Western Australia.

The fire in the Adelaide Hills has destroyed at least 26 homes, was the news yesterday that there had been no major change to the fire’s 238km perimeter, “Totient” which was continuing to burn out of control on Adelaide’s north-eastern fringe.

Wednesday looms as the “day of highest potential” for further havoc.
While residents are lucky that no lives have been lost in the fires so far, many animals have been killed.

Jo Morris and her husband Gregg have run a shelter for kangaroos for the past seven years. The fire ripped through their property on Friday, and Mrs Morris recalls pleading with the CFS to “please save my kangaroos”. While they managed to save some animals, others perished in the blaze.

Reinforcements arrived from NSW yesterday to bolster 700 South Australian firefighters already on the ground, with more from Victoria expected today.

The temperature in Adelaide and surrounding areas is forecast to soar to 38C today, and again tomorrow when a late weather change should move through the fire zone, bringing with it shifting winds and the possibility of thunderstorms. Travel Planners

“The day of the change is always the day of highest potential,” Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton said.

Since the fire began its devastating rage at Sampson Flat, northeast of Adelaide, on Saturday, it has burned through 13,000 hectares of land.

More homes could be destroyed as the fire continues on its path.
In Victoria, a bushfire blazing in the state’s west was downgraded overnight.

Residents north of the Black Range State Park, 340 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, were warned to stay away as 12 aircraft battled the blaze yesterday.

The bushfire, which has burnt at least 1000 hectares, is one of two major blazes battled by firefighters yesterday.

Three separate fires in the Little Desert Park, in the western district of Victoria, had burnt almost 4000 hectares since Sunday, but did not pose a threat to homes or lives.
Rain is not forecast until later this week.

The fires come two days after a 5000ha blaze at Moyston, near the Grampians mountain range in Victoria, destroyed two homes and partially burnt others.

Abstract Submission Deadline: November 30, 2013

The 20WCSS Program Committee cordially invites you to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations. All abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific Program Committee and assigned to the appropriate session for oral and poster presentations.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

All abstracts must be submitted electronically using the link provided on the 20WCSS website only. Abstracts submitted via e-mail, fax or regular mail will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

Acknowledgment of your submission will be sent to the e-mail address provided by the corresponding author. Please make sure that you receive an e-mail confirmation after making your submission. If you do not receive this e-mail confirmation, it means we have not received your abstract. If you are sure you have submitted it, check to make sure you sent it to the correct e-mail address.

Notification of abstract acceptance will be announced via e-mail by Jan. 15, 2014.

Abstracts must be written clearly in English and submitted prior to Nov. 30, 2013.

Abstracts should be 700 words or less, the submission system will not accept anything beyond that. Figures and tables are not permitted. Titles, authors and organizations will not be counted in the 700 word limit.

Read and follow the submission procedures that are available at www.20wcss.org, which will be available at each step of the process. If you have questions about the procedure, please contact the 20WCSS Secretariat at wcss@20wcss.org.

The e-mail you provided us will be used to notify you of the acceptance and to send you updated information.

The web submission system will automatically produce your abstract in the proper format for publication in the abstract book. You may copy and paste your abstract in the space provided on the website. Use upper and lower case characters. Do not use all upper case.

Authors may further edit and modify submitted abstracts until the submission deadline.

All inquiries regarding abstract submission should be made to wcss@20wcss.org.

Notification of Acceptance

All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific Program Committee according to reviewing procedures. Notification of acceptance will be sent by e-mail to corresponding, presenting and abstract submitting authors by January 15, 2014

Withdrawn Abstracts

If the presenting author of an accepted abstract does not register by March 20, 2014, the abstract will be automatically withdrawn from the final program.

If you must withdraw an abstract, please notify the 20WCSS Secretariat in writing as soon as possible.

Most travellers experience no problems during their stay in India, but if they do, the Consular & Passport Section of the Australian High Commission can provide a range of advice and assistance from issuing emergency passports, assist in cases of accident, serious illness or death, witness and certify documents, etc. However, we are unable to arrange any of your travel or hotel bookings, get you visas, pay private bills, legal costs or fines, get you out of goal or provide legal advice. The High Commission is however; always ready to assist in the case of an emergency. By law we must charge fees for certain services such as notarial acts, certifying documents, certificates of no impediment and producing introduction letters.

Checklist for your trip to India

Before you board your flight for India, you should make sure you’ve ticked all the boxes on your travel checklist:

Passport: Make photocopies of your passport, visa, certificate of travel insurance and other significant documents and leave them in a safe place with a family member or friend in Australia. If your passport is lost or stolen during your stay in India, you are required to obtain an exit visa in order to leave India. An exit visa can be given to you, provided you obtain a police report, two passport size photographs and a letter from the High Commission or Consulate General detailing your passport statusi.

Visa: All Australians travelling to India must obtain a visa before arrivali. Without one, it is very likely that you will be refused entry into India. If you intend to stay in India for longer than 6 months, you must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office or with the Superintendent of Police within 2 weeks of arrivali.

Health: Get any booster shots, medicines and vaccinations that are recommended by your GP. Pack anti-diarrhoeal medication and rehydration tablets in case you’re struck with Delhi belly.

Clothing: Stock up on insect repellent and sunscreen. Pack long and loose-fitting clothing as well as hats and appropriate footwear.

The Australian Consulate-General in Mumbai & Chennai are also equipped to provide consular services. Contact details of the Australian Consulate-General in Mumbai & Chennai are –

The Congress organizers are pleased to offer an exciting array of half-day to full-day excursions on the Sunday at the commencement of the conference (August 1) and the Saturday following the conference (August 7).

These tours will cover both inland and coastal landscapes of south-east Queensland, and the ways in which geology, vegetation and soils have affected land use in the area.

Particular topics of interest will include coastal urban development and agriculture on acid sulphate soils, native forests on a variety of geologies and intensive horticultural development on alluvium.

An inner city tour will highlight the landscapes of the inner Brisbane area, and their influences on urban development, while a tour to the west will take in topics such as coal mine rehabilitation and contaminated material disposal.
The excursions will include:-

Our LandscapeA wide, brown land
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It’s about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world – only two people per square kilometre.

Beach paradise
Australia’s coastline stretches almost 50,000 kilometres and is linked by over 10,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world. More than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast, making it an integral part of our laid-back lifestyle.

Our island home
Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the world’s smallest, flattest continent.

Our exports

Opals in our eyes
Australia produces 95 per cent of the world’s precious opals and 99 per cent of its black opals. The world’s opal capital is the quirky underground town of Coober Pedy in South Australia. The world’s largest opal, weighing 5.27 kilograms, was found here in 1990.

Gold galore
Kalgoorlie in Western Australia is Australia’s largest producer of gold. It also embraces the world’s largest political electorate, covering a mammoth 2.2 million square kilometres.

Merinos and cattle calls
Australia’s 85.7 million sheep (mostly merinos) produce most of the world’s wool. With 25.4 million head of cattle, Australia is also the world’s largest exporter of beef.

Our Record-Breakers

Natural legendsQueensland’s Great Barrier Reef is home to the world’s largest oyster, weighing up to 3 kilograms, while the world’s longest earthworm, stretching up to 4 metres, is found in Gippsland in Victoria. The heaviest crab, weighing up to 14 kilograms, is found in Bass Strait near Tasmania. Australia’s tallest mountain is Mt Kosciuszko, which is 2,228 metres above sea level.

Longest road, rail and fence
The world’s longest piece of straight railway track stretches 478 kilometres across South Australia’s vast, treeless Nullarbor Plain. Australia’s longest stretch of straight road – 148 kilometres – is on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. It’s just a tiny portion of the 2,700 kilometre sealed road that takes travelers from Perth to Adelaide. The world’s longest continuous fence – the dingo fence – was built to keep sheep safe from Australia’s native dog and runs for 5,531 kilometres through central Queensland and South Australia.Our Flora and Fauna

A hopping icon
The iconic kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of our most easily recognised mammals. There are an estimated 40 million kangaroos in Australia, more than when Australia was first settled.

Unique wildlife
Australia developed a unique fauna when it broke away from the super-continent Gondwana more than 50 million years ago. Today Australia is home to a wealth of wildlife not found anywhere else in the world. We have around 800 species of birds, half of which are unique to this country. Our marine environments contain more than 4,000 fish varieties and tens of thousands of species of invertebrates, plants and micro-organisms. About 80 per cent of Australia’s southern marine species are found nowhere else in the world.

Flourishing flora
Australia also supports at least 25,000 species of plants, compared to 17,500 in Europe. That includes living fossils like the Wollemi pine and the grass tree, and brilliant wildflowers. There are over 12,000 species in Western Australia alone!

Our People and Culture

An ethnic melting potSince 1945 more than six million people from across the world have come to Australia to live. Today, more than 20 per cent of Australians are foreign born and more than 40 per cent are of mixed cultural origin. In our homes we speak 226 languages – after English, the most popular are Italian, Greek, Cantonese and Arabic.

Aboriginal advances
Believed to be the world’s oldest civilization, Aboriginal people have lived and thrived on this continent for more than 50,000 years. Aboriginal societies made many unique advances long before the Europeans arrived. They invented the aerodynamic boomerang and a type of spear thrower called the woomera. They were also the first society to ground edges on stone cutting tools and the first to use stone tools to grind seeds, everyday tools developed only much later by other societies

Visiting Australia

Touring in Queensland and Australia

Queensland is an Australian State of which Brisbane is the capital city. The State is one of Australia’s premier destinations for visitors offering everything from the Great Barrier Reef to the Australian Outback. Highlights of Queensland include:

World Heritage listed Fraser Island: the largest sand island in the world and home to hundreds of species of native animals and birds. Only 3.5 hours drive from Brisbane, Fraser Island is a truly unique experience.

Far North Queensland: home of the Great Barrier Reef with its islands, reefs and lush rainforests.

Whitsunday Passage: more than seventy islands surrounded by turquoise sea. Many of the islands are uninhabited, but some have resorts ranging from simple, budget accommodation to grand five star luxury.

Outback Queensland: visit dry lakes and freshwater gorges or stay on an outback working sheep station.

Australia offers visitors an immense array of exciting destinations – you can sample them all at Australia.com – the official site of the Australian Tourism Commission.

Tipping

Tipping isn’t expected but is most certainly appreciated in Brisbane restaurants. Tips of approximately 10% are often left in appreciation of good service. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip. Visitors should tip only at their own discretion.

Shopping

Major department stores, such as Myer and David Jones provide services in some branches including multi-lingual staff to assist international visitors. Assisted shopping, currency exchange, mail order and parcel forwarding are also available. In the city centre, shopping hours are 9:00-17:30 Monday-Thursday; 9:00-21:00 Friday; 9:00-16:00 Saturday and 10:30-16:00 Sunday. Shops are generally closed on Sundays in the suburbs.

Brisbane’s city centre is compact and easy to get around making it ideal for shopping. The city’s shopping district centres around Queen Street Mall, with more than 500 shops, boutiques, major department stores and arcades.

Shopping takes on a new dimension on the weekends with open air arts and crafts markets. The largest and most colourful are those at South Bank Parklands and on the riverside terraces of Eagle Street, both of which are near the conference venue.

Brisbane has some of the best and least expensive duty free shopping in the world with duty free shops in the city centre and in the Departure Lounge of the International Airport.

Money and Credit Cards

The Australian currency is decimal with dollars and cents. Current exchange rates can be calculated at http://cnnfn.com/markets/currencies/index.html. Major international credit and charge cards such as Visa, American Express and Mastercard are widely accepted at retail outlets in Brisbane. Bankcard and EFTPOS facilities are also offered at many stores. Travellers cheques in Australian and US dollars are also widely accepted and can be cashed at banks, airports and major hotels.

Electricity/Voltage

The electrical current in Australia is 240 volts, AC 50Hz. The Australian three pin power outlet is different from that in other countries so you will need an adaptor socket. If your appliances are not 240 volts you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110 V appliances are sometimes available in leading hotels.

Time Zones

There are three time zones in Australia: Eastern Standard Time (EST) which operates in Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania; Central Standard Time (CST) in South Australia and Northern Territory; and Western Standard Time (WST) in Western Australia. CST is one half hour behind EST, while WST is two hours behind EST.

Telephones

The cost of a local phone call is AUS$0.40. Phonecards for use in public payphones to make local, long distance and international calls are available from a number of retail outlets. Phones which accept credit cards are less widely available but can be found at international and domestic airports, central city locations and hotels.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES

International delegates please note:

You will need a Visa to enter Australia.

All international visitors to Australia (the sole exception being citizens of New Zealand travelling on New Zealand passports) must obtain a visa in advance. You are urged to apply for a visa not later than six weeks prior to travel. Residents of many countries may now apply for a visa on line, others will need to apply at an Australian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. For information on how and where to apply for a visitors visa to Australia, please click here to go to the Department of Immigration Website.

You will need to register for the Congress and pay your fees before you apply for a visa. As part of your visa application, you may be asked to provide a “Letter of Invitation” to the Congress – this will almost certainly be the case if you have to apply for a visa at an Australian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. These letters will only be sent to registered delegates who have paid their registration fees in full. Unfortunately we cannot under any circumstances send these letters to persons who have not registered for the Congress and paid their fees.

Registration fee refunds

If you cancel your registration for any reason on or before 30 April 2010, you will receive a refund of your full payment less an administration charge of $250.00 (Australian Dollars). If you cancel your registration after 1 May 2010, you will not receive any refund but you may nominate a replacement delegate up until 14 days prior to the Congress. All cancellations must be advised to the Congress Office in writing (to megan@ccm.com.au).

Refunds will not be paid for cancellations notified after 1 May 2010 under any circumstances, including failure to obtain a visa.

Australia has very strict quarantine rules and failure to observe quarantine requirements is dealt with severely by Australian authorities. You may be subject to examination by quarantine officers on your arrival in Australia. Please ensure that you comply with all quarantine rules and directives. Information on quarantine will be provided to you (typically by flight attendants on your inward flight) before you enter Australia.